Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Terrorism

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to harmonise military and other efforts with the USA to achieve the President's aim to "unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the earth".

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May)'s visit to the United States of America (26-27 January) was an opportunity to discuss a range of shared priorities and challenges, including the fight against Daesh. We will continue to work closely with the USA as part of the Global Coalition against Daesh, where the UK plays a leading role through airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, training the Iraqi Security Forces, cutting off Daesh’s finances and countering their poisonous narrative.We have an extremely strong defence relationship with the US and look forward to continuing to work together to ensure our security and prosperity.

Burma: Rohingya

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the official visit of the Foreign Secretary to Burma, what representations they have made to the government of Burma to ensure humanitarian aid, the provision of political and civil rights and effective security for Rohingya people.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: ​During his visit to Burma on 20 January, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), raised the issue of the Rohingya in person with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as with the Minister for Home Affairs and the National Security Adviser. In these representations, the Foreign Secretary stressed the need for a restrained security response to the situation in Rakhine, full humanitarian access, and the need to end discrimination against the Rohingya people.

Burma: Human Rights

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with members of (1) the EU, or (2) the Human Rights Council, regarding including the establishment of a UN Commission of Inquiry into the situation in Rakhine State, Burma, in the next Human Rights Council Resolution on Burma.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: A UN Commission of Inquiry can be authorised by the Security Council, the Human Rights Council or the UN Secretary General personally. Of the first two, we assess it is unlikely there would be sufficient international support for such a commission on the situation in Rakhine at this time. There are a number of countries that routinely oppose such commissions as a matter of principle, and have done so in the past. Nor do we assess there would be support for this among our likeminded partners, including the EU.However, we continue to discuss human rights issues in Burma with our EU partners, both locally, in Rangoon and through the UK's Representation to the European Union in Brussels.We support the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, which does have the support of Burma's democratically elected government and the international community. The Commission's interim recommendations are expected in the spring and its final recommendations in the summer.

Israel: Palestinians

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning reports of a raid on Kafer Qadoum village.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, but we regularly discuss with the Israeli Government the need for proportionality in use of force and for proper accountability.

Gibraltar: Brexit

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of leaving the EU on the economy of Gibraltar.

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional security arrangements they are planning in Gibraltar following the UK’s exit from the EU.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK Government will continue to take whatever action is necessary to safeguard Gibraltar, its people, and its economy. We are committed to making a success of our exit from the EU.

Syria: Cultural Heritage

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have on the state of ancient sites in Palmyra, following recent reports of further destruction by IS militants; and when they last raised the protection of Palmyra's antiquities at the UN.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Following reports of the destruction of more relics, the UK remains concerned about the continued demolition of Syria's cultural heritage. The UN Security Council was briefed on the situation in Palmyra and released a statement condemning the destruction on 20 January 2017.

Pakistan: Cruise Missiles

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan following the recent announcement by Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations that Pakistan has successfully tested a Babur 3 submarine-launched cruise missile.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK believes in the importance of stability being maintained in South Asia, and continues to urge all parties in the region to refrain from action that could jeopardise this. We have not raised the recent reports of a missile test launch directly with Pakistan, but we have discussed a range of non-proliferation issues with Pakistan in the past and will continue to do so.

Israeli Settlements: Crimes of Violence

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning reports of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the Occupied Territories.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have repeatedly raised with the Israeli authorities our concerns about incidents of settler violence and intimidation, and have stressed the importance of bringing the extremist settlers responsible to justice and of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population.

Korea National Insurance Corporation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Korea National Insurance Corporation (KNIC) operates any branches in the UK; whether any KNIC staff are present in the UK; whether they have taken steps to sanction KNIC; and if so, what steps.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Korean National Insurance Corporation was designated by the European Union in July 2015. The UK has fully complied with all provisions of the sanctions regime.

North Korea: Diplomatic Service

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what activities have been undertaken by the British Ambassador and the UK Defence Attaché to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea since September 2016.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Since September 2016, the British Ambassador to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has undertaken a range of diplomatic activity in support of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) objectives in North Korea. This includes regular meetings with DPRK officials, international non-governmental organisations and diplomats from embassies based in Pyongyang. The Defence Attaché has not had any interaction with the DPRK during this period.

North Korea: Diplomatic Service

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the British Embassy in Pyongyang will consider operating social media accounts to increase transparency and public awareness of its daily operations.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Embassy in Pyongyang does not currently plan to operate a social media account.

Kosovo: Overseas Aid

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance the UK has given to Kosovo in the last three years to uphold the rule of law, policing and public administration, and through which channels.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: In the last three years, the Government has provided approximately £5.6 million assistance to Kosovo through the cross-Whitehall Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, the former Conflict Prevention Pool and the Drugs and Crime Fund programmes.

Kosovo: EU Aid

The Earl of Sandwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what way the UK has contributed to EU projects in Kosovo in the last three years, and what funds are already committed over the next two years.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: ​The Government has provided support for the provision of secondees to the EU Rule of Law Mission and to the EU Special Representative in Kosovo. A total of £1.1 million is committed over the next two years. In addition, as part of the UK's annual contribution to the EU budget, the UK has contributed towards EU programmes in Kosovo under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA II). IPA funding for 2014-20 is €126.2 million for Rule of Law assistance, and €110.4 million for Democracy and Governance (including public reform) assistance.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces: Deployment

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the length of time it would take to deploy Joint Force 2025 following authorisation of the Prime Minister, in the light of the maximum 66,000 personnel which may be deployed, as set out in Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015: Defence Key Facts.

Earl Howe: Joint Force 2025 will be composed of a full spectrum of capabilities, and be able to conduct a wide range of operations, up to major combat operations. At the most demanding end of the scale we will be able to deploy a potent expeditionary force of around 50,000. Deployment times would depend on the scale, expected duration and location of the commitment.

Army

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to their consultation on changes to the definition of trained strength for the army, why this change has been proposed.

Earl Howe: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon) on 30 June 2016 (HLWS50). The public consultation sought views on the inclusion of the revised Army Trained Strength figures within the Monthly Service Personnel Statistics publication. No external responses were received. The change was implemented from 1 October 2016. 



Strategic Defence and Security Review
(Word Document, 15.39 KB)

Veterans

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the new veterans gateway will become operational.

Earl Howe: The Veterans' Gateway is a £2 million programme run through a consortium of Combat Stress, PoppyScotland, SSAFA and Connect Assist, led by The Royal British Legion, to set up a one-stop service to better support the UK's Armed Forces Veterans community. The new service will provide a simple single point of contact through a 24/7 phone number with a professional voice at the end of the line, SMS access, a dedicated website and a mobile enabled web app to make it easier for former Service personnel to access support on a range of issues including housing, employability and health issues. Veterans in Northern Ireland, like other UK Veterans, will also be able to access the Veterans Gateway. Subject to successful trials, the Veterans' Gateway will launch in May 2017 through an event to be held on the same day in each of the home nations.

Defence: Expenditure

Lord Jopling: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the most recent figures for the percentage of gross domestic product spent on defence for each NATO member state; and where figures are available, what those percentages are expected to be in two years' time.

Earl Howe: The most recent figures for the percentage of gross domestic product spent on defence for each NATO member state were published in July 2016 and can be found in table 3 of the attached. http://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/pdf_2016_07/20160704_160704-pr2016-116.pdf Under this Government there are no published figures available for future NATO defence spending, however the UK is committed to meet our NATO pledge to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence every year of this decade in accordance with the NATO guidelines.



Defence Expenditures of NATO Countries (2009-16)
(PDF Document, 630.85 KB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food: Labelling

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to consult on the abolition of, or fundamental change to, best before dates after the UK leaves the EU.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: We wish to improve consumers’ understanding of the difference between ‘Best Before’ and ‘Use By’ dates as this issue has been identified as a potential source of food waste. The Government’s adviser on food waste, WRAP, has done a lot of work on this issue and improvements have resulted from that work. Consumers need to have the information to help them make the right decisions about the food they buy therefore we have no plans to abolish or make fundamental changes to durability indications.

Air Pollution: EU Law

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why, in implementing Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, the geographical area for which an air pollution alert of a nitrogen dioxide exceedance is called is defined by size of area in km² rather than by population impacted; and when that definition was last reviewed at ministerial level.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe stipulates that for the purposes of information and alert thresholds nitrogen dioxide is to be measured over three consecutive hours at locations representative of air quality over at least 100 km2 or an entire zone or agglomeration, whichever is smaller. This is transposed in England in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010. The European Commission conducted a review of the Directive in 2013. The review did not result in any change to the alert thresholds.

Primates: Conservation

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to increase global public awareness of the extinction crisis facing primates, as set out the global study Impending Extinction Crisis of the World's Primates: Why Primates Matter published in Science Advances on 18 January.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The UK is a member of the Great Apes Survival Partnership, a United Nations conservation programme which aims to bring worldwide attention to the crisis facing great apes.The Flagship Species Fund, a joint initiative between Defra and Fauna and Flora International, supported a project in 2014 to 2015 to promote awareness by local communities in Cameroon of the need to conserve the cross-river gorilla.The global study “Impending Extinction Crisis of the World's Primates: Why Primates Matter” identifies habitat loss as one of the main threats facing primates. The UK is committed to tackling deforestation and promoting the sustainable management of the world’s forests for the protection of biodiversity, and to support our climate and international development aims. Defra has implemented EU Regulations designed to tackle the trade in illegal timber and prevent illegal logging as well as invested £170m of the International Climate Fund in forestry projects around the world.Defra’s Darwin Initiative is a UK Government grant scheme which helps to protect biodiversity and the natural environment through locally-based projects worldwide. Over the last 25 years, the Darwin Initiative has supported biodiversity projects in developing countries which have benefitted primates either directly focussing on specific species or indirectly through tackling habitat loss. These include a current project in Uganda looking at how gorilla-based tourism generates increased benefits for poor people living around Bwindi Forest, improving local support for the park and for conservation of gorillas. Another project worked with local communities in Madagascar to reduce hunting of lemurs.Defra has also funded Darwin projects on sustainable forest management, to improve the natural habitat for many primates, including a current project in the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru showing how rainforest regeneration can deliver high priority biodiversity conservation as well as enhanced livelihoods for local communities.The primate study also identified the illegal trade of primates as one of the drivers to their extinction. The UK remains committed to playing a leading role in tackling illegal wildlife trade (IWT) and working with our international partners to bring about its end. In the run-up to the Hanoi IWT conference in November 2016, the UK Government ran an online campaign to raise awareness of the threat of IWT, highlighting the damage it does globally, that it is moving many species towards extinction, and alerting the public to the fact that it is a crime. At the conference, the Government announced an additional £13 million to new measures tackling IWT around the world, doubling its investment.

Home Office

Terrorism: Detainees

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people suspected of committing offences relating to terrorism have been held in pre-charge detention and subsequently convicted of the offence for which they were initially detained.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office collects and publishes figures on the number of people arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, by the period of detention and subsequent outcome (e.g. charge, release). This data can be found in table A.01 and A.02 of the Home Office Quarterly Statistics Bulletin on the operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation. The most recent bulletin, published on 15 December 2016, covers the period to the end of September 2016: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-terrorism-arrestsThe document is also attached to the response.The Home Office does not, however, hold this information for other terrorism-related arrests, made under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (Port and Border Controls). Nor does the Home Office hold information on individuals detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, for offences that are known to be terrorism-related.In none of the cases does the Home Office hold information on whether those arrested were subsequently convicted for the same offence that they were initially arrested for.



Terror Statistics
(Excel SpreadSheet, 74 KB)

Asylum: Russia

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many LGBT asylum seekers from Russia have been held in UK detention centres in the last three years.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Code of Practice for Official Statistics has established common standards to ensure a coherent and trustworthy service to the user of statistics. Home Office officials are continuing to review and assess information on the number of people claiming asylum where sexual orientation may form the basis of the claim, in order to ensure that any statistics produced meet the principles on both assured methodology and quality (ensuring statistical methods are consistent with scientific principles) and governing user needs.

Asylum: Russia

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the average length of detention of LGBT people seeking asylum from Russia in each of the last three years.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Code of Practice for Official Statistics has established common standards to ensure a coherent and trustworthy service to the user of statistics. Home Office officials are continuing to review and assess information on the number of people claiming asylum where sexual orientation may form the basis of the claim, in order to ensure that any statistics produced meet the principles on both assured methodology and quality (ensuring statistical methods are consistent with scientific principles) and governing user needs.

Asylum: Russia

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many LGBT people seeking asylum from Russia have been refused leave to remain in the UK.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Code of Practice for Official Statistics has established common standards to ensure a coherent and trustworthy service to the user of statistics. Home Office officials are continuing to review and assess information on the number of people claiming asylum where sexual orientation may form the basis of the claim, in order to ensure that any statistics produced meet the principles on both assured methodology and quality (ensuring statistical methods are consistent with scientific principles) and governing user needs.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Arts: Exports

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have published statistics on creative industries exports for Europe and not the EU specifically, and whether they will make a change to their collection and publication methods before the next statistics are published.

Lord Ashton of Hyde: DCMS have published the attached DCMS Sector Economic Estimates report which contains the relevant information on Table 4.2 - “Exports of services by continent”, and Table 4.3 - “Creative Industries export of services to the EU”.​We intend to continue to publish this breakdown in future releases of this publication.



DCMS Sector Economic Estimates report
(PDF Document, 1.06 MB)




DCMS Sector Economic Estimates Tables
(Excel SpreadSheet, 84.27 KB)

Department of Health

Social Services: Fees and Charges

Baroness Altmann: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered introducing specific savings incentives to help people prepare for social care costs in later life; if so, why they have not been introduced; and if not, why not.

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Government recognises that there needs to be reform in the medium and long term to reduce variation and ensure high quality care across the whole country. It is interested in considering the full range of options to do this, including savings incentives as a possible longer-term solution.

General Practitioners: Opening Hours

Lord Birt: To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Shaughnessy on 23 January (HL4387), what plans they have to collect basic information about the opening hours of general practices.

Lord O'Shaughnessy: General practitioner (GP) surgeries self-declare their opening hours to NHS England on an annual basis, this covers reception and phone line opening and closing times. A new data collection on extended access to general practice was launched during October 2016, in response to the government’s mandate to NHS England, which sets out: “to ensure everyone has easier and more convenient access to GP services, including appointments at evenings and weekends”. The collection has been set up to monitor the availability of pre-bookable appointments in general practice at evenings and weekends. The first collection took place during October 2016 and was published in December 2016. Collections will continue bi-annually until March 2021. The first report, General Practice Extended Access: October 2016, is attached. It should be noted that these are experimental statistics.



General Practice Extended Access: October 2016
(PDF Document, 324.77 KB)

Mental Health Services: Armed Forces

Lord Touhig: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to guarantee that NHS mental health services are meeting the needs of veterans and Armed Forces families.

Lord O'Shaughnessy: In 2016, NHS England completed an audit of the current veterans’ mental health services that were put in place following the Fighting Fit report by Dr Andrew Murrison MP. This included an extensive consultation exercise which sought the views and experiences of veterans, family members, service charities and commissioners and explored the reasons why some had not engaged or received support and treatment. The findings of the audit have fed into the veterans’ mental health service procurement NHS England are currently undertaking. From April 2017, these services will offer evidence-based and consistent support across England that best meets the needs of veterans’, family members and serving personnel leaving the forces. Members of the armed forces community are also able to make full use of the range of mental health services that NHS England offer, including Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, and will benefit from the commitments made in the Mental Health Five Year Forward View. Services in the rest of the United Kingdom are a matter for the devolved administrations.

Hospital Beds

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to provide for a power to charge hospital patients who have overstayed in hospital and refused to leave even after doctors have certified that they are well enough to leave.

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Department is not currently planning to provide for a power in this area.

Sickle Cell Diseases

Lord Kinnock: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why adult sufferers from sickle cell anaemia who could benefit from stem cell treatment are not able to receive such treatment under the NHS when child sufferers can; and whether they are considering changing this policy.

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Decisions related to the provision of stem cell transplantation are an operational matter for NHS England. Stem cell transplants for sickle cell disease in adults are not routinely commissioned by NHS England. Whilst stem cell transplants can be effective for some carefully selected patients, stem cell transplantation can also lead to a number of complications, some of which can be severe and life threatening. NHS England commissioning policy for stem cell transplants is kept under review in the light of the latest clinical evidence. The National Institute for Health Research is currently inviting research proposals for a multicentre randomised control trial to address the clinical and cost effectiveness of stem cell transplantation in adults with severe sickle cell disease. Evidence from this trial will inform NHS England commissioning policy related to stem cell transplants in adults with sickle cell disease.

Trastuzumab Emtansine

Baroness Crawley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will intervene and ask the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to work with the pharmaceutical company, Roche, to reassess its provisional decision not to recommend the advanced breast cancer drug Kadcyla for routine use on the NHS.

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that provides guidance on the prevention and treatment of ill health and the promotion of good health and social care. NICE operates with great transparency and makes exhaustive efforts to involve stakeholders, including manufacturers, in its appraisal work. NICE is currently appraising trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) for the treatment of HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after treatment with trastuzumab and a taxane. NICE’s final guidance to the National Health Service on whether the drug should continue to be routinely available on the NHS is expected in March 2017. It would not be appropriate for Ministers or officials to intervene in this independent process.

Trastuzumab Emtansine

Baroness Crawley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of the petition by Breast Cancer Now calling for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to reverse its decision not to recommend the advanced breast cancer drug Kadcyla for routine use on the NHS, and what is their response.

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Department is aware of Breast Cancer Now’s petition. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) for the treatment of HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after treatment with trastuzumab and a taxane. NICE’s final guidance to the National Health Service on whether the drug should continue to be routinely available on the NHS is expected in March 2017. It would not be appropriate for Ministers or officials to intervene in this independent process.